Lansing Sexton will host Capital Area Activities Conference Blue Division foe Grand Ledge 7 p.m. Friday in a game that could decide the fates of two teams vying for conference supremacy.

Sexton has emerged as an early favorite to unseat defending champs Lansing Everett for the division title. Sexton enters the game 2-0 after a 21-14 win at Chelsea and a 38-0 victory over Monroe.

With the team’s early success, Sexton coach Daniel Boggan said he is stressing the importance of conference play.

“There’s an emphasis on ‘it’s a new season,’ ” Boggan said. “We want to win the conference championship. Seeing how Grand Ledge is picked to win the conference, we have to play well on Friday.”

Grand Ledge historically is a strong contender for the CAAC Blue Division title, but this may be a down year for the Comets. Grand Ledge lost its first two games of the season to East Kentwood, 16-14, and Holland West Ottawa, 33-3.

Coach Matt Bird said his team went “back to basics” in practice this week to correct the 0-2 slide. Despite the team’s early struggles, Bird said the players plan to live up to Grand Ledge’s preseason expectations.

“They will continue to fight and continuously improve,” he said. “They’re not going into anything feeling sorry for themselves or making excuses for themselves. It’s easy to have negativity spread, and our young kids are doing a good job of not letting that happen.”

Grand Ledge won the last meeting between the two teams by a lopsided 35-8 final score. Grand Ledge went on to finish the season 7-3—good enough for second place in the division - and earned a playoff spot.

Sexton missed the playoffs last year with a 5-4 record, which left the Big Reds tied for fourth place in the division.

“The past two years Sexton was young,” Bird said. “Those kids are now seniors and juniors. They’ve got older, experienced kids that are playing like older kids should.”

Although the season started well for Sexton, it will have to correct mental mistakes to beat Grand Ledge. In its last game against Monroe, Sexton accumulated 14 penalties, some of which negated scoring plays and long kick returns.

Boggan said he preached discipline to his team all week, and tried to keep his team humble after early success.

“It’s just two games,” he said. “We’re 2-0. Not 5-0 or 6-0.”

Grand Ledge at Lansing Sexton

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday

Lowdown: Lansing Sexton’s young talent has matured into a strong contender to take the CAAC Blue Division title this season. Grand Ledge finished third in its division last year and needs a win this week to stop a slide to 0-3.

Key Matchup: As is the case with any team facing Lansing Sexton this season, the key will be stopping the Big Reds’ run game. Led by running backs Avonte Bell and Ja’Von Wray, Sexton torched Monroe on the ground last week for 367 yards and five touchdowns. Sexton also has Javon Cooney, a capable kick returner who has had several long returns called back this season because of penalties. Cooney could make an impact this week because Grand Ledge struggled on special teams against Holland West Ottawa. The Comets allowed a blocked field goal and several long returns that gave West Ottawa five drives starting in Grand Ledge territory. If Lansing Sexton can stay out of its own way, it should win easily.